The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-26
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.


would naturally be supposed that such gov
eminent having been created by the people
for the express purpose Of protecting and
promoting their interests and welfare, would
use every endeavor to carry out their desires;
and this idea is, in fact, one that widely pre-
walls, and is difficult to eradicate from the
mind of the average citizen. He persistently
clings to the belief that the man whom he
helps to place in the position of guardian of
the city affairs is a representative of himself
and his neighbors, and will, in his official
capacity, consider their interests as para
mount to all others. In spite of repeated
demonstrations of the error of this notion,
the confding citizen goes on from year to year
assisting to place men in charge of public
business under the fond delusion that he
himself, is thus securing voice in its man.
agement. This error is to some extent
doubtless. due to the custom adopted by the
gentlemen who desire to act as aldermen or
councilmen, or what not Of assuring their
anxiety to serve them is the only motive
which would induce acceptance of the posi-
tons. There is some reason to think that
these asseverations are made occasionally by
some ingenious soul who means what he
says, but in these, as in other cases, the result
is apt to be the same Where in exceptional
ho o1b 10 al fx1o no;
likely to be very lonesome official. AS
rule, the councilman or alderman is DO
sooner in harness than a change comes over
the spirit of his song. Where was lately
determination to reform abuses and institute
improvements is suddenly developed con-
sentative tendency. Reforms he now argues,
change the existing condition of things is un-
wise. Many things must be considered; there
must he time for deliberation. A swift
doing away with abuses would result in
inconvenience, if not loss, to individ-
uals, or, say, corporations, now profit
ing by them. Inconvenience to the
1CooOt oot Poiti0uioiis W ea0 Adooo Ahiiu-
entail of their constituents is a thing which,
it has been often noted, no councilman can
contemplate with calmness. The city may
suffer by the continuance Of an abuse, but
what is that to the danger that a powerful
citizen, or, say, corporation, be deprived of
privilege SO long enjoyed that it has taken on
i r - G.
prehensive is this change Of sentiment from
that INDUCED in before election that city
legislators seem to labor under the impression
that they were chosen to promote individual,
or, say, monopolistic enterprise at any cost.
The length to which this idea has been carried
in New York, for instance, has, in fact, cost
a number of aldermen their precious liberties,
while a like fate hangs over the officials of the
city of Chicago, from janitor up, and they are
phia, Brooklyn and other cities which might
be named only complete revolution in the
method of management saved those commune
ties from being sold into complete and hope
less bondage, through the zeal of their
Representatives" in behalf of private, or, say,
corporate purchasers.
In Indianapolis matters have not reached
such an extremity. No councilman or alder
man here would permit his feeling Of duty to
those whom he was not elected to represent to
lead him into the perils encountered by New
York, and Chicago, and st. Louis aldermen.
Perish the thought! The Indianapolis coun-
Gilman, however, is not free from the singu-
lar mental popularity which distinguishes his
brethren of these cities Previous to election
none can exceed him in public spirit Such
is his anxiety to promote the general welfare
that he has been known to spend months and
even years and twice the salary of his term in
the effort to secure the office. If this is not a
manifestation of unselfsnness and pure phil
anthropy then what is it, But after the cleo
ton this enthusiasm wanes. The public finds
it difficult to get at the exact reasons Of his
action in any given case. An air
of awful mystery surrounds impor-
tant official proceedings. The newly
fedged city father suddenly develops
financial genius of great magnitude, and
talks wisely but somewhat vaguely of the
necessity for economy" and retrenchment
and the advisability of going slow. Particu.
larly does he urge the need of going slow
and, it must be acknowledged, lives up to his
principles in this respect, save now and then
| when the exige ncies, say of the Street-rail
way Company, seem to call for prompt
rulings in favor of that organization. Owing
to this cessation of zeal for the city many
things which he was expected to do remain
undone. Freight cars still obstruct South
side crossings; trains run at dangerous speed
within city limits; property on the South Side
is allowed to depreciate in value from thes,
causes and the delay in building viaducts
street contractors are permitted to clean orno
to clean, to build up or TO tear down, appar
emily at their own sweet will; the Street-rail